10 Haunted Places to Visit in the U.S.

Spooky season is officially upon us, and fans of all things scary are ready to get their thrills. While haunted houses full of actors can be fun, those looking for the real deal might be surprised to find that some of the most popular tourist attractions in the U.S. are actually haunted year-round.

Just in time for Halloween, Holidu, a search engine for vacation rentals, set out to find the top, must-visit haunted destinations in the U.S. Using data from Google searches along with research about destinations with a history of ghostly activity, the company created a list of the top 10 most popular haunted tourist destinations in the U.S.

Coming in at No. 1 is New York City’s Brooklyn Bridge. Although the bridge is a hotspot for Instagram photo shoots now, 20 workers died during the more than 13 years it took to construct the Brooklyn Bridge. Additionally, twelve civilians lost their lives during a stampede caused by rumors that the bridge was collapsing. Consequently, there have been numerous sightings of headless figures and shadowy apparitions, along with eerie reports of screams echoing on the bridge. If you’re brave enough, hop on one of the many ghost tours offered in Brooklyn to learn more about the spirits that allegedly roam the area.

No. 2 on the list is a bit less surprising: the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas. Renowned as the site of one of the most gruesome battles in Texas history, almost all Texan soldiers perished in this conflict against Mexico. To this day, it is rumored that visitors might spot an apparition of a guard on the south side of the building’s roof.

Rounding out the top three is the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. This sprawling mansion has housed many famous guests, including Stephen King, who reportedly used the hotel as inspiration for his work “The Shining.” Moreover, several paranormal investigations have documented ghostly activities at the Stanley Hotel, with rooms 401 and 217 supposedly being the most active.

Here’s the full top 10 list:

1. Brooklyn Bridge: New York, NY
2. The Alamo: San Antonio, TX
3. Stanley Hotel: Estes Park, CO
4. Philadelphia Zoo: Philadelphia, PA
5. Biltmore Hotel: Coral Gables, FL
6. Robert the Doll: Key West, FL
7. Winchester Mystery House: San Jose, CA
8. Beverly Hills Hotel: Beverly Hills, CA
9. Eastern State Penitentiary: Philadelphia, PA
10. Chateau Marmont: Los Angeles, CA

If you’re ready for a spook-filled vacation, Holidu offers accommodations near all of these haunted hotspots.

Jessica Poitevien is a contributor for iBestTravel currently based in South Florida, but always on the lookout for the next adventure. Besides traveling, she loves baking, engaging with new people, and taking long walks on the beach. Follow her adventures on Instagram.